81 All Out - A Cricket Podcast

Can a bowler find a way to exploit a batter's anatomy and his movements? England did it to Bradman and Co. in the Bodyline series in 1932-33 but modern bowlers have tried a variation of this strategy too and turned in unforgettable spells. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/81allout] Talking Points: * The essence of Bodyline * Wahab Riaz v Watson in Adelaide, 2015 * The left-armer's unusual advantage when cramping the right-handers * Mitchell Johnson's spell from hell at the Gabba in 2013 * Why it is relatively easy for a batter to leave some short balls compared to others * Tendulkar v red hot Australian pace in Ahmedabad in 2011 * Allan Donald v Mike Atherton, Trent Bridge, 1998 * The disadvantage of the back-and-across movement for right-hand batters * Wasim Akram v Rahul Dravid, Chennai, 1999 * Fearless: Mohinder Amarnath memoir - Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/FEARLESS-Memoir-Rajender-Amarnath-Mohinder/dp/9362130319] Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee [https://x.com/sidvee]) Prashant DP (@prashantdptweet) [https://x.com/prashantdptweet] | Medium [https://medium.com/@dpprashant.1805]  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee [https://www.amazon.com/WAR-MINUS-SHOOTING-Mike-Marquesee/dp/0434003816/] Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward [https://www.amazon.com/Cricket-Beyond-Bazaar-Mike-Coward-ebook/dp/B0B59S2DZK] The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  [https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Game-Gideon-Haigh/dp/9811865086/] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related * Wahab Riaz spell v Watson - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=cI86qwKs5nU-79zz&v=uC6Xk5RbZVQ&feature=youtu.be] * Mohammad Amir to Watson - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XadX0mpFPs] * Mitchell Johnson at the Gabba, 2013 - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Vz3OTvFm4&t=145s] * How the summer of Johnson changed cricket - ESPNcricinfo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHct7MxchLU] * Allan Donald v Mike Atherton, Trent Bridge, 1998 - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTnhAYsDCFc]  * Allan Donald fast bowling masterclass - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GRZLUDkS0c] * Wasim Akram v Dravid, Chennai, 1999 - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_jl8l0utR8] * India. Pakistan. Chennai. 1999 - Siddhartha Vaidyanathan - ESPNcricinfo [https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1172609/india--pakistan--chennai--1999]

We review the fifth Test between Australia and India in Sydney where Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a thrilling three-day win. Support 81allout on Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/81allout] Talking Points: * Australia's superior bowling depth wins the day * The remarkable Mr Boland  * India's muddled approach to this series: neither batting heavy nor bowling heavy * Why didn't India trust their fast bowlers enough to play 4 each Test? * The futility of picking two spinners in these conditions  * Jasprit Bumrah's steep workload; Siraj's tireless spells * Are Rohit and Kohli both in decline or is there a way back for them?  * A series full of electric bowling * Rishabh Pant's mad max half-century * Prasidh Krishna's promise of steepling bounce * The end of an era of magnificent India-Australia series Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee [https://x.com/sidvee]) Mahesh (@cornerd [https://x.com/cornerd])  Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview [https://x.com/cricketingview]) | Substack [https://cricketingview.substack.com/]| ESPNcricinfo [https://www.espncricinfo.com/author/kartikeya-date-547] * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee [https://www.amazon.com/WAR-MINUS-SHOOTING-Mike-Marquesee/dp/0434003816/] Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward [https://www.amazon.com/Cricket-Beyond-Bazaar-Mike-Coward-ebook/dp/B0B59S2DZK] The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  [https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Game-Gideon-Haigh/dp/9811865086/] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related * Australia Regain The Border-Gavaskar Trophy After A Decade - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview substack [https://cricketingview.substack.com/p/australia-regain-the-border-gavaskar] * India’s BGT report card - Sriram Veera - Indian Express [https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/bgt-india-vs-australia-sydney-test-india-report-card-9760930/] * Australia’s bowlers batter India to keep home fires burning for World Championship tilt - Geoff Lemon - Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jan/05/australias-bowlers-batter-india-to-keep-home-fires-burning-for-world-championship-tilt] * India dismantle England in lop-sided finale: India v England, 5th Test review - 81allout podcast archive [https://www.81allout.com/2024/03/11/india-dismantle-england-in-lop-sided-finale-india-v-england-5th-test-review/]

We review the fourth Test between Australia and India at Melbourne. Australia went 2-1 ahead after a special win. ⁠Support 81allout on Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/81allout] Talking Points: * A series where the first 40 overs is vastly different to the second 40 * Why are India hesitant to play a fourth fast bowler? * India's issue with four tailenders - and Australia's advantage in the lower order * The Sam Konstas decision - and the hat tip to Bumrah * Nathan Lyon's first-innings v second-innings effectiveness in Australia * Jasprit Bumrah's mastery over the new and old ball * Siraj and Akash Deep: impressive yet unlucky * Rohit Sharma's struggles over his last 6 Tests Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee [https://x.com/sidvee]) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview [https://x.com/cricketingview]) | Substack [https://cricketingview.substack.com/]| ESPNcricinfo [https://www.espncricinfo.com/author/kartikeya-date-547] * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee [https://www.amazon.com/WAR-MINUS-SHOOTING-Mike-Marquesee/dp/0434003816/] Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward [https://www.amazon.com/Cricket-Beyond-Bazaar-Mike-Coward-ebook/dp/B0B59S2DZK] The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  [https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Game-Gideon-Haigh/dp/9811865086/] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related * Australia 2-1 Up As India's Hedge Fails - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview substack [https://cricketingview.substack.com/p/australia-2-1-up-as-indias-hedge] * Sam Konstas makes debut to remember - Geoff Lemon - Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/dec/26/australia-india-fourth-test-day-one-match-report] * Rohit on Bumrah's bowling workloads: 'We've been very careful' - Alagappan Muthu - ESPNcricinfo [https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/aus-vs-ind-4th-test-melbourne-rohit-sharma-on-jasprit-bumrah-s-bowling-workloads-we-ve-been-very-careful-1467247] * Nitish Kumar Reddy’s father: ‘No one used to know my name outside my town, but now in Australia people are asking selfies’ - Sriram Veera - Indian Express [https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/nitish-kumar-reddys-father-no-one-used-to-know-my-name-outside-my-town-but-now-in-australia-people-are-asking-selfies-9749761/]

We review the the third Test between Australia and India at Brisbane. Australia piled on 445 but rain helped India keep the series at 1-1.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/81allout] Talking Points: * India's decision to persist with four bowlers an an allrounder * The need for insurance in the lower order against Australia's attack * Akash Deep's incisive spells with little reward * India's multipronged. issues with their transition * Rohit and Kohli: poor form or slowing reflexes. Or mostly bad luck? * Pat Cummins: the master of seam and length * Jasprit Bumrah's ability to create jeopardy at will * R Ashwin's decision to retire midway through the series  * Ashwin's astonishing strike rate and the legacy he leaves behind Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee [https://x.com/sidvee]) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview [https://x.com/cricketingview]) | Substack [https://cricketingview.substack.com/]| ESPNcricinfo [https://www.espncricinfo.com/author/kartikeya-date-547] * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee [https://www.amazon.com/WAR-MINUS-SHOOTING-Mike-Marquesee/dp/0434003816/] Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward [https://www.amazon.com/Cricket-Beyond-Bazaar-Mike-Coward-ebook/dp/B0B59S2DZK] The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  [https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Game-Gideon-Haigh/dp/9811865086/] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related * Ashwin :the great problem-solver who played cricket for cricket's sake - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo [https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/r-ashwin-retires-great-problem-solver-who-played-cricket-for-cricket-s-sake-1465742] * Ashwin retires - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack [https://cricketingview.substack.com/p/ashwin-retires] * The Encyclopedist - Gideon Haigh - Cricket et al. (subscription) [https://cricketetal.com/p/the-encyclopedist] * How Ashwin remained a committed cricketer and a team man till his sudden and surprising exit - Sriram Veera - Indian Express [https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/how-ashwin-remained-committed-cricketer-and-a-team-man-till-his-sudden-and-surprising-exit-9731829/]

We review the the second Test between Australia and India at Adelaide. Australia drew level with a handsome 10-wicket win.  Support 81allout on Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/81allout] Talking Points: * Mitchell Starc: the pink ball master * Australia's bowling depth to the fore in day-night Test * India's selection hedges come back to bite them * Is it time to go back to picking five specialist bowlers?  * Travis Head: a right royal headache for India * Australia thrive on a pitch with true bounce * Has the Harshit Rana experiment run its course?  * The Nitish Reddy puzzle: he is offering lower-order runs with the bat but little with the ball * Ashwin's fine spell on a pitch that offered nothing for him * Pat Cummins' deadly bouncers Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee [https://x.com/sidvee]) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd [https://x.com/cornerd]) Ashoka Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview [https://x.com/cricketingview]) | Substack [https://cricketingview.substack.com/]| ESPNcricinfo [https://www.espncricinfo.com/author/kartikeya-date-547] * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy books republished by 81allout: War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee [https://www.amazon.com/WAR-MINUS-SHOOTING-Mike-Marquesee/dp/0434003816/] Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward [https://www.amazon.com/Cricket-Beyond-Bazaar-Mike-Coward-ebook/dp/B0B59S2DZK] The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh  [https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Game-Gideon-Haigh/dp/9811865086/] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: * Australia square the series - Kartikeya Date - Cricketing View substack [https://cricketingview.substack.com/p/australia-square-the-series] * Sanjay Manjrekar: Kohli has 'serious technical issue' that he can't find solution to - ESPNcricinfo [https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricket-videos/aus-vs-ind-virat-kohli-has-serious-technical-issue-that-he-cant-find-solution-to-sanjay-manjreka-1463978] * Travis Head brings the South Australia feelgood factor to make India suffer - Geoff Lemon - Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/dec/07/travis-head-brings-the-south-australia-feelgood-factor-to-make-india-suffer] * Give it up for 2024: Test cricket has had few better years - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo [https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/give-it-up-for-2024-test-cricket-has-had-few-better-years-1463338] * 81allout podcast archives from the 2020-21 series: Preview [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3bc8h19UUNbQ4zY3Fv9z73] | Adelaide [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pKDlG0833jmIMbuzgmZ7D] | Melbourne [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dJjhh0OiicIKPLTUZoV4f] | Sydney [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2LxKeAU8iIP9qfhvGFhYVH] | Brisbane [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UQXzXKJ8NWr9UPDYqDGMR?si=7nI5_I1cQ-qvTbkcTqNJ2w] | Interview with journalist Bharat Sundaresan [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1VfkfczMUAoIWcf4dG1Buc?si=ZXWDx75eQDa-0Cy7pEhMiw]